To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions have taken place between officials in his Department and the chief executive and officials of Liverpool city council since June; what means of communication were used in each case; and if he will place in the Library the (a) minutes...

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions have taken place between officials in his Department and the chief executive and officials of Liverpool city council since June; what means of communication were used in each case; and if he will place in the Library the (a) minutes...

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding has been (a) allocated and (b) spent directly by his Department on (i) the Leeds Supertram scheme and (ii) light rail schemes in England.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much funding has been (a) allocated and (b) spent directly by his Department on (i) the Leeds Supertram scheme and (ii) light rail schemes in England.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the relative costs of ultra light rail compared with (a) guided busways and (b) conventional train systems.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the relative costs of ultra light rail compared with (a) guided busways and (b) conventional train systems.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list departmental meetings held in relation to (a) Manchester, (b) the Sheffield tram system and (c) the Nottingham tram system programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list departmental meetings held in relation to (a) Manchester, (b) the Sheffield tram system and (c) the Nottingham tram system programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues in respect of Mersey Tram Line 1.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues in respect of Mersey Tram Line 1.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his statement of 3 November 2005, OfficialReport, columns 60–62WS, on Leeds supertram, what funding his Department plans to provide for a Leeds rapid bus scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his statement of 3 November 2005, OfficialReport, columns 60–62WS, on Leeds supertram, what funding his Department plans to provide for a Leeds rapid bus scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when a decision will be announced on the funding of the Fareham-Gosport-Portsmouth light rapid transit scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when a decision will be announced on the funding of the Fareham-Gosport-Portsmouth light rapid transit scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2005, Official Report, column 1542W, on Merseytram services, if he will publish the evidence on which he based his statement on the promoters' assessment of regeneration and employment impacts; and when he discussed this issue...

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2005, Official Report, column 1542W, on Merseytram services, if he will publish the evidence on which he based his statement on the promoters' assessment of regeneration and employment impacts; and when he discussed this issue...

Economic Impact Report assessment: Merseytram line 1. By Sarah Love. 3 p.

Economic Impact Report assessment: Merseytram line 1. By Sarah Love. 3 p.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on light rail

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on light rail

The hon. Gentleman rightly talks about the long-term costs and benefits, but other social, environmental and wider economic costs must be taken into account, and when they are, trams seem to be a very good buy.

The hon. Gentleman rightly talks about the long-term costs and benefits, but other social, environmental and wider economic costs must be taken into account, and when they are, trams seem to be a very good buy.

I congratulate the hon. Member for Rochdale (Paul Rowen) on having secured the debate. Let me remind the House that in October last year we held a similar debate on the future of light rail after the Secretary of State announced the cancellation and withdrawal of funds from three tram...

I congratulate the hon. Member for Rochdale (Paul Rowen) on having secured the debate. Let me remind the House that in October last year we held a similar debate on the future of light rail after the Secretary of State announced the cancellation and withdrawal of funds from three tram...

On my hon. Friend's point about regeneration, if we take a city or conurbation such as Greater Manchester, it is obvious that the existing Metrolink has had a regenerative effect there, and that it is a vital part of plans for the future. The lack of joined-up government on this...

On my hon. Friend's point about regeneration, if we take a city or conurbation such as Greater Manchester, it is obvious that the existing Metrolink has had a regenerative effect there, and that it is a vital part of plans for the future. The lack of joined-up government on this...

: I agree with the hon. Gentleman. There is no doubt that where trams are used regeneration has occurred and, as in Manchester, areas have been developed and improved. Before considering what action should be taken to put light rail back on track, I want to look at the Manchester...

: I agree with the hon. Gentleman. There is no doubt that where trams are used regeneration has occurred and, as in Manchester, areas have been developed and improved. Before considering what action should be taken to put light rail back on track, I want to look at the Manchester...

: I am very supportive of the hon. Gentleman, but he talks about ROSCOs buying trams, and on the railways ROSCOs charge extortionate amounts—up to 30 per cent. per year. Surely trams can be bought by the public sector at a reasonable return. It would just take the Government to...

: I am very supportive of the hon. Gentleman, but he talks about ROSCOs buying trams, and on the railways ROSCOs charge extortionate amounts—up to 30 per cent. per year. Surely trams can be bought by the public sector at a reasonable return. It would just take the Government to...

: I agree that the costs are high. However, I am trying to suggest a way forward in case the Government are not prepared to commit any more public money. I would far rather they treated light rail as they treat road schemes, on which it does not seem to...

: I agree that the costs are high. However, I am trying to suggest a way forward in case the Government are not prepared to commit any more public money. I would far rather they treated light rail as they treat road schemes, on which it does not seem to...

I shall confine my remarks to Merseytram line 1 and lines 2 and 3, which would have followed had it gone ahead. The line has been in the making for the past five or more years, with strong support from Liverpool city council—in principle, at any rate—and huge support from...

I shall confine my remarks to Merseytram line 1 and lines 2 and 3, which would have followed had it gone ahead. The line has been in the making for the past five or more years, with strong support from Liverpool city council—in principle, at any rate—and huge support from...

My constituency of Gosport is based on a peninsula, and the neighbouring town of Fareham is rapidly developing. The link between Gosport and Portsmouth is across a narrow 4,600 yd channel. The whole area is regarded as being ideally suitable for a light rail transit system, because road access is...

My constituency of Gosport is based on a peninsula, and the neighbouring town of Fareham is rapidly developing. The link between Gosport and Portsmouth is across a narrow 4,600 yd channel. The whole area is regarded as being ideally suitable for a light rail transit system, because road access is...

: My hon. Friend makes a profound and important point, which the Transport Committee has made to Ministers a number of times. Local transport plans have four objectives, and not one of them is regeneration. It clearly should be, because the people who run our great cities say that regeneration...

: My hon. Friend makes a profound and important point, which the Transport Committee has made to Ministers a number of times. Local transport plans have four objectives, and not one of them is regeneration. It clearly should be, because the people who run our great cities say that regeneration...

: May I make it clear that that reflected Liverpool city council's legal advice? It said that it could not rely on assurances from the PTA without further due diligence work. It was in respect of that that I made my comment.

: May I make it clear that that reflected Liverpool city council's legal advice? It said that it could not rely on assurances from the PTA without further due diligence work. It was in respect of that that I made my comment.